IN'<; THE ELECTION. SI '' 



President of the Republic of < liil , with yourself, and Mr. Urmeneta (Minister of Finance), 

 will lia\r rxplain.-.l ill. -Mi lav in n |>l yintf to your note of tin- Kith in.stant. 



In tin- pivsriit Htate of ullaii>. it i-^ my iluty, and that of the Commander-in-chief of the naval 

 I ..!' IK-I .Maji-sty in tin- Pacific, to supervi.M- tlic inti-rents of her Majesty's subjects, and at 

 the ximr time tu afford to a govern UK -nt in amity with her Majesty the aid and assistance 

 circumstances permit, without compromising the princi|le of neutrality. 



Tins presence of her Britannic Majesty's steamer Gorgon prevented the premeditated capture 

 of the mail strainer, and orders have been given to detain the Firefly, piratically taken at 

 ('oijiiimho. Her Britannic Majesty's steam corvette Driver sailed for Talcahuano yesterday 

 evening, as well for the protection of British interests as to take possession of the Firefly, if 

 found at that port. Respecting the act of aggression upon the Firefly at Coquimbo, Vice- 

 Admiral Moresby informs me that he is prepared to take more coercive measures against the 

 persons in Coquimbo to whom is attributed the authority of ordering the capture of that vessel, 

 as soon as the government of Chile expresses to me its need of means for the protection of 

 foreign interests in that port ; and in this opinion I wholly coincide, for those irregularly 

 constituted authorities cannot be recognised by us, it being the government of Chile alone to 

 whom we may apply for indemnification of the losses suffered in that illegal capture. 



To avoid repetition of the insult to the English mail steamer, communication with her will 

 only be permitted through the British ship of war stationed off the port of Coquimbo. 



I avail myself of this occasion to renew to you, &c., &c. 



J. H. SULLIVAN. 



His Excellency DON ANTONIO VAKAS, 



Minister of Foreign Relations. 



VALPARAISO, October 1, 1851. 



The undersigned, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of 

 America near the government of Chile, has the honor to enclose to his Excellency Don 

 Antonio Varas, Minister of State and Foreign Relations of Chile, a copy of a paper that has 

 been placed for some days in the Exchange of this city, and which was inserted without 

 comment in the " Mercuric" of the 29th ultimo a periodical considered to be the organ of 

 government. 



The undersigned respectfully asks his Excellency the Minister of Foreign Relations to 

 inform him whether the embargo or blockade of the port of Coquimbo, promulgated by the 

 representatives of her Britannic Majesty by medium of that notice, is an act of hostility towards 

 the government of Chile, or if said blockade has been instituted by the knowledge and consent 

 of this government. 



In asking this question, the undersigned is moved only by a desire to secure the interests of 

 citizens of the United States. 



The undersigned avails himself of this occasion to renew, &c., &c. 



BALIE PEYTON. 



His Excellency DON ANTONIO VARAS, &c. , &c. 



SANTIAGO, October 2, 1851. 



The undersigned, Minister of State in the Department of Foreign Relations, has had the 

 honor to receive yesterday's note which the Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary 

 of the United States of America near this government was pleased to direct to him, accom- 

 panied by a copy of an advertisement published in the " Mercurio " by the consul of her Britannic 

 Majesty in Valparaiso, and posted in the Mercantile Exchange of that city, respecting the 

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